Virgil augustus mason



N0. 6l2,255. Patented Oct. ll, I898. V. A. MASON.

TROLLEY POLE.

(Application filed Apr. 20, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)-

N VE N T0,? Vi gil) J]. Jmsow.

WITNESSES A TTORNE Y8.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIRGIL AUGUSTUS MASON, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ASSIGN OR OF ONE-HALF TO ELIZABETH COVERT, OF SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY-PO LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,255, dated October 11, 1898.

Application filed April 20, 1898. Serial No. 678,227. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VIRGIL AUGUSTUS MASON, a resident of Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley- Poles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention is an improvement in trolleypoles, seeking to provide a simple construction whereby the pole may yield laterally to conform to curves and also a construction by which it may yield vertically at its upper end to pass hangers and other obstructions on the wire.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as in use. Fig. 2 illustrates the pole in detail, and Fig. 3 is a detail edge view of the pole.

To permit the lateral play of the trolleywheel, I provide the pole with a flattened portion A, which sets vertically edgewise, thus giving sufficient strength vertically and permitting the lateral bending of the pole to enable the wheel at all times to properly adjust itself to the wire when passing curves and over rough places. In practice I arrange this flattened portion A far enough from the trolley-wheel to have sufficient power to let the wheel have control over the pole instead of the pole over the wheel, thereby enabling the wheel to adjust itself at all times, even under the most trying circumstances.

To permit the pole to adjust vertically, I make it in sections B and O, the butt-section B being pivotally connected to the car and the wheel-section 0 being jointed at D to the section B and provided at its outerend with the wheel E to run on the wire. The hinge is in the form of a strap-hinge breaking upwardly and stopping at F on the downward movement of the wheel-section, thus limiting the movement of such section and stopping the pole when the wheel-section is in alinement with the butt-section. At its hinged end the wheel-section is preferably hollow and receives a coiled spring G, which is connected at one end with the butt-section of the pole and has at its other end a rod or shank which extends through a longitudinally-elongated slot H in the wheel-section and thence througha hearing I, and is supplied with a nut J, sothe tension of the spring can be varied as may be desired. This spring G operates to press the trolley-wheel firmly against the under side of the trolley-wire and yet permits it to yield downwardly to properly pass obstructions on such wire.

Itwill be noticed that by my invention I provide a trolley-pole having independent springs for permitting and controlling the vertical and lateral movement of the trolleywheel, each of which springs is so arranged as to prevent any vertical play at the portion which permits the lateral adjustment or lateral movement at the joint provided to secure the vertical play.

The coil-spring can be readily adjusted to secure the desired bearing of the wheel against the wire, the adjusting means being provided on the under side of the wheel-section and out of the way, as shown.

By flattening the pole to present its edge vertically I secure the lateral play of the trolley pole by the construction of such pole apart from a special construction of separate spring or tension devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- .7

1. A trolley-pole comprising the butt-section, the wheel-section hinged at one end to the butt-section, made hollow at such end and provided with a longitudinally-elongated slot and with a bearing for the spring-holding bar, the spring secured at one end to the butt-section and extending at its other end into the wheel-section, the spring-holding bar secured to the said spring and extended through the slot and through the bearing on the wheel-section, and the adjusting-nut substantially as described.

2. The improved trolley -pole herein described comprising the butt-section provided with a flattened portion set vertically edgewise whereby to permit the lateral bending of the pole without impairing its vertical rigidity, the wheel-section hinged at one end to the butt-section made hollow at such end and having a longitudinally-elongated slot, the spring secured at one end to the butt section and extending at its other end into the hollow of the Wheel-section, the shank or bar connected with said spring and extended through the slot, and the nut and bearing whereby to adjust said bar and spring substantially as set forth.

3. The trolley-pole herein described comprising the butt-section, the hollow Wheel-section hinged at one edge of its end to the buttsection, and the spring arranged within the hollow Wheel-section secured at one end in connection with the Wheel-section and at its other end in connection With the butt-section and operating by a contracting tension to tilt the wheel-section on its pivotal connection With the butt-section substantially as set forth.

VIRGI L AUGUSTUS MASON.

XVitnesses:

F. M. COVERT, R. M. ARMSTRONG. 

